1The Psalmist exhorteth the celestial, 7the terrestrial, 11and the rational creatures, to praise God.
1PRAISE ye the LORD. 1Praise ye the LORD 2from the heavens:a praise him in the heights.b
1 This verb praise is used here in the plural in the Hebrew text, and so throughout this and the two following psalms.
2 Or, ye of the heavens, that is, ye heavenly creatures, as well the heavens themselves with their inhabitants, as the stars and all their motions. So also verse 7.
a Rev. 5:13.
b Luke 2:14.
2Praise ye him, all his angels: praise ye him, 3all his hosts.
3 Namely, which are in the heavens. See the annotations Gen. 2 on verse 1; Psalm 103 on verse 21.
3Praise ye him, sun and moon: praise him, all 4ye stars of light.
4 Or, ye shining stars.
4Praise him, ye 5heavens of heavens, and 6ye waters that be above the heavens.
5 That is, ye, most high ones of the heavens. See Deut. 10 on verse 14; 1 Kings 8 on verse 27.
6 That is, the clouds which hang, as it were, in the air, called likewise heaven. See Gen. 1:6, 7; Job 26:8; 37:11.
5Let them praise the name of the LORD: forc he commanded, and they were created.
c Gen. 1:6, 7, 8, etc.; Psalm 33:6, 9.
6Hed hath also stablished them for ever and ever: he hathe made a decree 7which shall not pass.
d Psalm 104:5; 119:91.
e Job 14:5, 13; 26:10; 38:33; Jer. 31:35; 33:25.
7 The sense is: None of all those creatures mentioned before shall transgress the order appointed to them, and established by God.
7Praise the LORD 8from the earth, ye 9dragons, and all deeps:
8 That is, ye creatures upon the earth, or made of the earth.
9 The whales, or sea dragons or other sea monsters, are comprehended here under the earth, as sometimes the sea is itself, and particular there where it is said that God created heaven and earth, Gen. 1:1.
8Fire, and hail; snow, and vapour; stormy wind fulfilling 10his word:
10 That is, His, the Lord’s command. The creatures, which have no sense, do praise and serve God in their manner, when God performs or executes by them His will and pleasure. See Psalm 19:3; 147:15.
9Mountains, and all hills; fruitful trees, and all cedars:
10Beasts, and all cattle; creeping things, and 11flying fowl:
11 Hebr. bird of wings.
11Kings of the earth, and all people; princes, and all judges of the earth:
12Both young men, and maidens; old men, and children:
13Let them praise the name of the LORD: for hisf name alone is excellent; his glory is above the earth and heaven.
fProv. 18:10; Isa. 12:4.
14He also exaltethg the 12horn of his people, 13the praise of all 14his saints; even of the children of Israel, 15a people near unto him. Praise ye the LORD.
gPsalm 132:17.
12 That is, the power and glory. See the annotation at Deut. 33 on verse 17. This is principally fulfilled in Christ, Who is called the horn of salvation, Luke 1:69.
13 That is, giving them matter of the praise of His Name through His benefits.
14 Understand by saints the children of God, all true, godly persons, who are merciful and kindhearted, as is their heavenly Father. See Psalm 4:3.
15 That is, which is a people more strictly allied and affianced with God in Christ, than any other people, John 20:17; Eph. 2:13, 17; 1 John 3:1.